Social Security Scam Going Around Morris Co.

MORRIS PLAINS, NJ — A social security scam is making the rounds in Morris County, and police want to make sure you know how to avoid falling for it.

Scammers will call residents and say that their Social Security number has been suspended due to suspicious activity, Morris Plains police said. They'll then ask for personal information, money, or both.

The Social Security Administration will never ask for personal information over the phone, police said. If you have concerns about your Social Security number, hang up and call the Social Security Administration directly.

The FTC has these tips to help avoid falling for a scam:

• Don’t give the caller your information. Never give out or confirm sensitive information – like your bank account, credit card, or Social Security number – unless you know who you’re dealing with. If someone has contacted you, you can’t be sure who they are.
• Don’t trust a name or number. Con artists use official-sounding names to make you trust them. To make their call seem legitimate, scammers use internet technology to spoof their area code – so although it may seem they are calling from Washington, DC, they could be calling from anywhere in the world.
• Check with the Social Security Administration. The SSA has a warning about these scams and suggests you contact them directly at 1-800-772-1213 to verify the reason for the contact and the person’s identity prior to providing any information to the caller.